Wood finishing method and product



Jan. 16, 1962 J. M. BERRY ETAL WOOD FINISHING METHOD AND PRODUCT FiledMay 20, 1959 SANDED WOOD APPLY TONER DRY APPLY G LAZE WIPE GLAZE DRY'APPLY FILLER-SEALER CURE APPLY FINISH COAT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-l JOHN MBEJVKENTORi? FYVERETTE' E. W B

ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1962 Y J. M BERRY ETAL 3,017,287

WOOD FINISHING METHOD AND PRODUCT Filed May 20, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2SANDED WOOD FIG-2 APPLY GLAZE WIPE GLAZE DRY APPLY FILLER-SEALER DRYAPPLY FINISH COAT INVENTOR.

EEWHYT ATTO R N EYS' Jan. 16, 1962 J. M. BERRY ETAL 3,017,287

WOOD FINISHING METHOD AND PRODUCT Filed May 20. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3FIG-5 INVEN TOR. JOHN M. BERRY EVERETTE E. WITT BYM/m ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,017,287 WOOD FINHSHING METHQB AND PRQDUQT John M. Berry,Martiusville, Va, and Everette E. Witt,

Miamisburg, Ohio, assignors to Midland Chemical Corporation, Dayton,(lhio a corporation or Delaware Filed May 20, 1959, Ser. No. 814,538 3Claims. (Cl. 117-72) This invention relates to wood finishing systemswherein the wood is provided with a surface adapted for the decorationand preservation of the wood; more particularly the invention relates towood finishing systems provided to greatly accentuate differences incolor between the pore and flake of the wood.

Contrasting shades, and contrasting colorations such as black and white,sometimes termed a sea foam finish, are desired on decorative furniturepieces, and such finishes must also exhibit protective and preservationqualities. Normally aqueous materials are avoided for such purposes, asWater stains, for example, tend to raise the grain of the wood,resulting in much labor and expense in overcoming the raised grainefiect. Consequently aqueous treating materials have been limited intheir application even though the water stains, such as aniline dyes,have long been considered more desirable than the oil and spirit stains.

In the co-pending application of John M. Berry, Serial No. 735,239,filed May 14, 1958, there are described aqueous system wood finishingmethods which materially reduce the costs involved while permitting theattainment of the advantages of an aqueous system.

It has now been found that such aqueous methods may be employed inconnection with the preparation of Wood surfaces having greatly improvedcontrast between the pore areas and the flake areas of the wood. Thesystem is effective to emphasize naturally occurring diiferences betweenthe pore and flake as well as to produce contrasting colorations in thepore and fiake areas. Further, while flake areas are eccentuated thesurface is itself smooth and the high labor costs attendant otheraqueous systems are eliminated.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide animproved economical wood finishing process whereby the naturallyoccurring differences in the pore and flake areas of the wood aregreatly accentuated.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a process whichaccentuates naturally occurring ditferences in the pore and flake areasof the wood and which wood may have a clear, pigmented, or contrastingcolor finish.

In the practice of the method of the copending application referred tohereinbefore the wood treatment involves essentially the application toa smooth. wood surface of a fixing agent followed by a filler-sealercoat which provides on the wood a hard, translucent film. Over this filmprotective lacquer coats or varnish, for example, may be applied.

In the practice of the present invention at least one coloring materialis utilized; this coloring material is applied and rag wiped in aglazing operation prior to the application of the filler-sealer whicheffects the final filling and sealing of the pores of the wood. It maysuitably be applied independently of the fixing agent or with the fixingagent.

In instances where two contrasting materials are applied to the wood oneis usually applied with the fixing agent and over a first appliedcoloring material. In any event the wiping operation is effected afterthe coloring matter is applied and prior to the completion of fillingand sealing.

The glazing operation is effective to afford sharp accentuation of thepore areas of the wood and a smooth surface with no grain raisingapparent results. To this resultant surface when dry the filler-sealeris applied and cured, and this is suitably followed by the usual finishcoats. The product is a hard film on the wood through which thedistinctions between the pore and flake areas are apparent in eitherclear or pigmented finishes.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description and accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 illustrates the steps of the procedure to achieve a black andwhite (so-called Sea Foam finish);

FIGURE 2 illustrates the steps of the process for attaining a clearfinish;

FIGURE 3 illustrates the product;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic, greatly enlarged and fragmentary view of theproduct illustrating in crosssection a wood surface in accordance withthe invention.

The numeral 1 in FIGURES 3 and 4 designates a wood base which hasthereon a durable, substantially insoluble, transparent coatingdesignated generally at 2. The coating includes a first film 3containing a coloring material of whitish coloration and a second film 4of darker coloration, and a final coating 5 of nitrocellulose lacquer.

EXAMPLE I wood grain is apparentthe wood surface is not there forecompletely obscured.

The toner is prepared by diluting one quart of a /2 second plasticizednitrocellulose solution containing 20 percent nitrocellulose by weightin a lacquer thinner to 1 gallon, and pigmenting the solution with 2pounds of titanium dioxide by grinding in a pebble mill to secure thedispersion of the dioxide; such toner then may contain:

Toner A Parts by weight Nitrocellulose 5 Lacquer thinner lgallon.Plasticizer (dibutylphthalate) 1 Titanium dioxide 2# A light spray ofthis toner is applied to the wood giving the wood a whitish appearance.The wood is then over dried for about /z hour at about F. and thenlightly sanded.

A wiping glaze is appliedsuitably by spraying-over the wood; this glazeis prepared by first forming an aqueous fixing agent and then plgmentingthe fixing agent. The fixing agent contains:

Fixing agent A Powdered boric acid 1.5 lbs. Powdered alum 1.5 lbs.Sucrose (sugar) 10 lbs. Water 3.5 gallons (29 lbs.).

Wetting agent (Triton X-IOO) 6.4 liq. ounces (0.42 lb.).

The above are mixed together with simple agitation; then 5 liquid ouncesof H 80 (0.63 lb.) are added to yield approximately 5 gallons of thefixing agent A.

To prepare the glaze:

Glaze "A allon 1 Fixing agent A" Raw umber ounces..

The fixing agent and umber are mixed with simple agitation.

This glaze is sprayed in a heavy wet coat over the dried white toner. A3-5 minute air dry period is followed by a wiping of the glaze acrossthe grain of the wood; rag wiping provides a smooth even colored surfacewith the dark coloring agent-umber in the pores of the wood. This isachieved because the initial light spray of the pigmented toner isinsuificient to fill the pores. The dark aqueous coloring agent wipeswithout disturbing the white undercoat. After wiping, the wood is airdried for approximately 10 minutes and then sprayed with filler sealer.

The filler sealer is also applied by spray and is formed as follows:

Filler-sealer "A Urea formaldehyde 15#. Water 2 gallons (16.6 lbs.).

Mix these components by simple agitation.

Mix:

Sucrose (sugar) 7#.

Water 0.5 gallon (4.1 lbs).

and combine the two solutions.

Add:

Glycerine 64 liq. ounces (5.0 lbs).

Wetting agent (Triton X-100) v 6.4 liq. ounces (0.42 lb.).

and mix with simple agitation.

This filler sealer is sprayed over the dried glaze and airdried for20-30 minutes, then oven dried for 30-60 minutes at 110 F.-l40 F.

The product of the filler-sealer drying is a hard, translucent, smoothfilm which does not require sanding prior to the application of finishtop coats; such finish coats suitably are three coats of anitrocellulose lacquer; or, alternatively, urea-alkyd varnishes ornatural resin varnishes may serve as the finish.

The black coloration in the pores of the wood contrasts sharply with thewhite background on the wood flake; an important advantage in additionto the appearance of the product is the adhesion of the undercoats tothe top coats. This is readily ascertained as by simply puncturing aconventional finish with a knife and stripping the finish peels readily.In contrast the undercoats and top coats of this invention adheretogether in a tight bond.

EXAMPLE It To provide a clear finish on walnut, for example, theprocedure is similar except that no initial fixing toner is utilized. Tothe bare sanded wood first apply a glaze made of:

Wiping glaze B Fixing agent A gal Raw umber "ounces...

EXAMPLE III A glaze for cherry wood contained:

Cherry glaze Fixing agent A gal 0.5 Burnt umber ..ounce 1.0 Burnt siennado 1.0

The procedure was as in Example II, the cherry glaze being substitutedfor the walnut.

4 EXAMPLE IV A glaze for mahogany contained:

Mahogany glaze The procedure for application is as in Example 11, themahogany glaze being substituted for the walnut.

The glaze in each instance, since it contains the fixing agent, combinesthe functions of partially filling the pores of the Wood Withoutoccasioning grain raising to any substantial extent and therefore nosanding is required before applying the fill-seal; the film providedover the wood by the fixing agent is homogeneous, water soluble,continuous and hard; the earth colors of the glaze distribute evenly butare retained substantially only by the pore areas after the wiping. Theglaze it itself acidic and reacts with the fill-sealer composition.

The fill-sealer composition wets the dried fixing agent film, providesby virtue of its sugar content some additional filling of the pores andprovides a sealing which results in the hard transparent film throughwhich the emphasized differential pore and flake areas are visible.

In the system described the principal function of the sugar is to fillthe pores of the wood; in addition the sugar contributes to theviscosity of the liquid necessary for appropriate spraying, and is afurther advantage in the formation of a continuous film on the surfaceof the wood.

The boric acid, sulfuric acid and aluminum sulfate act as acid catalystsfor the polymerization of the urea formaldehyde and the filler sealer.Further the boric acid and aluminum sulfate assist in inhibiting grainraising. This grain raising, as already noted, is a common defect inaqueous wood finishing systems.

The wetting agent found to be most desirable is Triton X-100, which isemployed in both fixing agent or wiping glaze and the filler sealer, isan alkyl aryl polyether alcohol which is non-ionic. The most suitablewetting agents are those having non-ionic characteristics.

The urea formaldehyde of the filler sealer performs the dual functionsof filling and of sealing or insolubilizing. By curing the ureaformaldehyde is reacted to form a hard transparent insoluble surface,suitable for the application of lacquer topcoats.

A very suitable urea formaldehyde is that which is sold as a drypartially polymerizable powder having a particle size of about 30 mesh.Other characteristics of such suitable resin include a Stormer viscosityof 20-70 r.p.m. at 21 C. (50 grams of water plus 100 grams of theresin); a gel time at 70 F. of -140 minutes grams of the resin and 50grams 4% ammonium chloride solution).

Glycerin serves as a plasticizer in the filler sealer. It has been foundthat preferably the weight of glycerin in the filler sealer should belimited to between about 5-10 percent by weight of the filler sealer.Such a plasticizer as the glycerin tends to avoid any crazing of thefinished film; with a large excess of the glycerine the rate of cure isreduced.

The coloring agents and pigments employed by the usual commercial tradeneed not be described in detail.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and accordingly,it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention asmay fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The process of finishing wood to produce a wood finish surface inwhich color contrast between the pore and flake areas of the wood isaccentuated, comprising the steps of successively treating the woodsurface to a Burnt sienna toner, a wiping glaze and an aqueousresin-containing dispersion; said toner being composed of-Nitrocellulose 5 parts by weight Lacquer thinner 95 parts by weight 1gallon. Dibutyl-phthalate 1 part by weight Titanium dioxide 2 lbs.

said wiping glaze being composed of 2. The process of finishing wood toproduce a finish as set forth in claim 1, and wherein said toner isapplied to the wood and dried prior to the application of the wipingglaze, and wiping the glaze from the flake area of the wood and into thepore area, applying the resin dispersion thereover, and drying the thustreated wood to produce a hard finish on the wood.

3. The process of finishing wood to produce a wood finish surface inwhich color contrast between the pore and flake areas of the wood isaccentuated, comprising the steps of successively applying to the woodsurface to a wiping glaze and an aqueous resin containing dispersion,said wiping glaze containing Powdered boric acid lbs 1.5 Powdered alum....lbs 1.5 Sucrose lbs 10 Water gal 3.5 Wetting agent (Triton X-100)liq. ounces 6.4 Raw umber ..do 20 said aqueous dispersion containingUrea formaldehyde lbs 15 Water ..gal 2.5 Glycerin liq. ounces 64 Wettingagent (Triton X-l00) do 6.4

wiping and drying the glaze prior to the application of the dispersionto provide the glaze in the pore area of the wood and to substantiallycompletely remove the glaze from the flake area of the wood, and dryingthe applied dispersion to a hard insoluble film.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PilTENTs1,548,528 Hiltz Aug. 4, 1925 2,015,806 Menger Oct. 1, 1935 2,565,602Fisher et a1 Aug. 28, 1951 2,573,105 Lehman Oct. 30, 1951 2,630,395McCullough et a1 Mar. 3, 1953 2,648,641 Robison Aug. 11, 1953 OTHERREFERENCES Wood Finishing, Vanderwalker, Drake and Co., 1944, pp. 340and 341.

3. THE PROCESS OF FINISHING WOOD TO PRODUCE A WOOD FINISH SURFACE INWHICH COLOR CONTRAST BETWEEN THE PORE AND FLAKE AREA OF THE WOOD ISACCENTUATED, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SUCCESSIVELY APPLYING TO THE WOODSURFACE TO A WIPING GLAZE AND AN AQUEOUS RESIN CONTAINING DISPERSION,SAID WIPING GLAZE CONTAININGSAID AQUEOUS DISPERSION CONTAININGWIPING ANDDRYING THE GLAZE PRIOR TO THE APPLICATION OF THE DISPERSION TO PROVIDETHE GLAZE IN THE PORE AREA OF THE WOOD AND TO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELYREMOVE THE GLAZE FROM THE FLAKE AREA OF THE WOOD, AND DRYING THE APPLIEDDISPERSION TO A HARD INSOLUBLE FILM.